Nothing
CMF Phone 2 Pro wins “Best Value Smartphone of 2025” — and here’s why
The budget smartphone from CMF by Nothing—the CMF Phone 2 Pro—has just been awarded “Best Value Smartphone of the Year (2025)” by Marques Brownlee (MKBHD). The award highlights how the Phone 2 Pro manages to deliver near-premium performance and features while staying affordable — a win for budget-minded users looking for maximum value.
What is CMF Phone 2 Pro
Released in May 2025, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is the second phone from CMF (the budget-focused sub-brand of Nothing), designed to bring strong specs and modular style without a steep price.
I also reviewed this phone earlier and published a detailed breakdown of its performance, camera quality, software experience, and overall value.
Key Specifications
- Display: 6.77-inch AMOLED, full HD+ (1080 × 2392 px), 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR support.
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro – octa-core CPU.
- RAM & Storage: 8 GB RAM; internal storage options 128 GB or 256 GB.
- Rear Cameras (Triple):
- 50 MP wide (main)
- 50 MP telephoto (2× optical zoom, up to 20× digital zoom)
- 8 MP ultra-wide
- Front Camera: 16 MP for selfies and video calls.
- Battery: 5,000 mAh capacity, with 33 W fast charging support.
- Software: Ships with Nothing OS 3.2, based on Android 15.
- Other: Dual SIM (Nano + Nano), 5G connectivity, modular design with optional accessories (like snap-on lenses and back covers) that add customisation possibilities — a nod to its modular spirit inherited from CMF’s previous devices.
In short — the Phone 2 Pro packs a large, high-quality display, a powerful modern chipset, multi-lens cameras including telephoto and ultra-wide, and a large battery — all wrapped in a design that keeps the phone relatively slim and attractive.
Why It Got “Best Value Smartphone of 2025”
- Premium-like performance at budget price: The combination of a 120 Hz AMOLED screen, a capable Dimensity 7300 Pro chip, and 5G puts it close to more expensive phones — but at a fraction of the cost.
- Versatile camera system: The triple rear cameras, including a telephoto lens with optical zoom, give users flexibility for wide, zoomed, and ultra-wide shots — rare at this price.
- Balanced battery + features: A 5,000 mAh battery with 33 W fast charging ensures long usage without sacrificing speed or performance.
- Modular, customisable design: Modular accessories (lens attachments, covers, stands) help it stand out from typical budget phones.
- Clean software + future-proofing: Nothing OS (Android 15), plus commitment to updates, means longer usable life compared to some entry-level phones. Promised 3 Major Android updates and 6 years of security patches, giving the CMF Phone 2 Pro long-term reliability.
All of this adds up to a phone that delivers features and quality far beyond what you’d expect at this price — making the award from MKBHD a reasonable nod.
Pricing (India & Other Markets)
In India, at launch (May 2025):
- 8 GB + 128 GB — ₹ 18,999
- 8 GB + 256 GB — ₹ 20,999
- With bank / exchange offers, some units were available for as low as ₹ 16,999.
In the other market, the CMF Phone 2 Pro retailed at around US$ 279 in the U.S. beta release, making it very competitive globally.
Final Word
With the CMF Phone 2 Pro, CMF by Nothing has shown that you don’t need to spend top-dollar to get a smartphone that feels premium, performs smoothly, and takes good photos. The MKBHD “Best Value Smartphone of 2025” award seems well-deserved — especially for users in markets like India, where balancing features and cost is often the priority.
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Nothing has started rolling out the Nothing OS 4.1 October 2026 update for the Nothing Phone (2). The update focuses on bug fixes, system stability improvements, and connectivity optimisations. It also brings the October 2026 security patch.
The update size is 107 MB, making it a relatively small maintenance update.
Nothing OS 4.1 October Update: What’s New?
According to the official changelog displayed on the device, the update includes the following improvements:
- Video playback: Improved smoothness for videos recorded at 1080p@ 60FPS.
- Bluetooth: Optimised connection stability when activating the voice assistant.
- Wi-Fi hotspot: Fixed an issue where the hotspot frequency did not match the selected option in certain cases.
- System stability: Enhanced overall system stability.
- Security: Updated to the October 2026 security patch.
How to Download the Update
Nothing Phone (2) users can check for the latest update by navigating to Settings > System > System Update. If the update is available, download and install it.
The rollout may happen in phases, so some users might have to wait before receiving the update.
If you don’t receive any OTA related to the update, you can manually update through our Nothing Firmware app.
Overall, the Nothing OS 4.1 October update is a minor maintenance release focused on improving the everyday user experience rather than introducing new features.
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Nothing Phone and CMF users now have a new way to keep track of software updates. Nothing Firmware, an Android app developed by TechiBoy Studios, is now available on Google Play.
The app brings firmware update tracking, changelogs, Nothing OS OTA package downloads, and information on Nothing app updates into one place. It is designed for users who want to stay informed about the latest software releases for their devices.
What Is the Nothing Firmware App?
Nothing Firmware is an independent app built to help Nothing Phone and CMF users follow firmware releases without having to search across multiple sources.
Users can check available firmware updates, read changelogs to understand what’s changed, and download OTA packages through the app. It also tracks Nothing app updates and provides direct links to their Google Play listings.
Nothing Firmware App Features
The app includes several features designed to make software update tracking easier.
- Firmware tracking: Follow firmware releases for Nothing Phone and CMF devices.
- Detailed changelogs: Check update details and learn about new features, improvements, and bug fixes.
- OTA downloads: Download firmware packages with progress tracking.
- Update notifications: Receive alerts when new firmware releases are available.
- Nothing app updates: Track Nothing app releases and open their Google Play listings directly.
- Home screen widget: View the latest firmware information from the home screen.
- Custom alerts: Choose notification sounds and enable voice announcements for update alerts.
- Theme options: Switch between Auto, Light, and true-black Dark themes.
- Device information: Check device details, build numbers, and security patch information.
The app also includes a warning for firmware packages that do not match the detected device, helping users avoid selecting an incorrect package.
Is Nothing Firmware an Official Nothing App?
No. Nothing Firmware is an independent community project developed by TechiBoy Studios. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Nothing Technology Limited or CMF by Nothing.
How to Download Nothing Firmware
Nothing Firmware is available on Google Play. Users can download it to keep track of firmware updates, read changelogs, and follow Nothing app releases.
Download: Nothing Firmware on Google Play
If you’re already running an incremental build of Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta, you can’t directly roll back to the stable version through a regular incremental OTA update. Nothing Firmware currently provides stable incremental updates only. Once Nothing releases the Nothing OS 5.0 stable update for your device, it will appear in the app when available. Until then, you may need to follow Nothing’s official rollback instructions if you want to return to a stable build.
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Nothing has teased another Pokémon on its official X account and Nothing Community, hinting that a new product could be on the way. This time, the company has shared Kingdra, Pokémon #230 in the National Pokédex.
Kingdra is a Water/Dragon-type Pokémon introduced in Generation II. The teaser features the Pokémon alongside a cryptic description about sleeping deep on the ocean floor to build energy and causing tornadoes when it wakes up.
What Could Nothing Be Launching Next?
Nothing has not revealed which product the new Pokémon teaser refers to. However, the company has previously used Pokémon-themed teasers to build anticipation for upcoming devices, making this latest post worth watching.
An audio product, such as new Nothing Ear earbuds or headphones, could be one possibility. A new smartphone or another product category cannot be ruled out either.
For now, the product name, specifications, pricing and launch date remain unknown. More details may emerge through future teasers from the company.
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